RFA Ethanol Podcast

Animal Ag Bites 8/26

Carrie Muehling

  • Seven food writers recently participated in a food and farm excursion to see first-hand how veal calves are raised. The North American Meat Institute, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, hosted the tour which included visiting multiple veal farms in Pennsylvania and Indiana. The writers visited with farmers, animal nutritionists, veterinarians, feed representatives and chefs to learn more about the transformation that has occurred in how veal is raised today.
  • A new book, “What Would Jesus Really Eat? The Biblical Case for Eating Meat,” is now available to help arm farmers, ranchers and others in the animal agriculture industry with the information they need to have informed conversations about the complex subject of religion and eating meat. Copies of the book can be purchased exclusively from the Animal Agriculture Alliance at a discounted rate for a limited time. Additional discounts are available for bulk orders. Click here to order your copy today.
  • September 28 and 29, alpaca business owners throughout North America will celebrate the 12th annual National Alpaca Farm Days. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. invites you to visit participating member farms and ranches during this fun-filled family event. For a complete list of participating farms and ranches, visit www.AlpacaFarmDays.com.
  • University of Florida scientists believe they can develop new antimicrobials that will benefit dairy cattle and, eventually, humans by treating bacteria that normally resist antiobiotics. KC Jeong, an associate professor of animal sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, plans to use a nearly $460,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to make cattle bacteria less resistant to antibiotics; therefore, more treatable. Humans also may benefit from Jeong’s research because many bacteria in our bodies also resist antibiotic treatments.
  • On July 12-13, 2019, the 8th International Poultry Forum China was held at Hilton Hotel Yantai, Shandong, China. More than 400 industry professionals, entrepreneurs and executives attended the forum representing all areas of the poultry meat and egg industry chain. The International Poultry Forum China was organized by Poultry International China and LyJa Media, in cooperation with WATT Global Media and supported by World’s Poultry Science Association, National Poultry Industry Branch CAAA and Shandong Poultry Industry Association.
  • Marek’s disease—a highly contagious viral disease caused by a herpesvirus—is a constant threat to poultry worldwide. To help improve the control of Marek’s disease, veterinary medical officer John Dunn and his team at the Agricultural Research Service Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan, analyzed Marek’s disease genomes to find out which genes are mostly associated with virulence. The study was published recently in the Journal of General Virology.
AgWired Animal, Animal Bites